Navigating Anxiety Through Homeopathy

Anxiety is increasingly common in Australia, with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men experiencing it at some stage. Personally, I would be inclined to rejig that statistic to EVERYONE, as my clinic work has taught me, we all express our anxiety in a myriad of ways.

Defined as persistent, excessive worry or fear, anxiety manifests in various ways. Some include restlessness, panic attacks, and even physical symptoms like palpitations. Others may be expressed as social timidity, patterns and coping strategies you have built up over years or avoiding situations and circumstances.

The increasing rates of anxiety, especially among young adults and children, point to a broader social challenge requiring holistic approaches.

How Anxiety Manifests

Anxiety doesn’t present the same way for everyone. For some, it’s a constant hum of worry; for others, it appears as acute episodes triggered by certain situations. It can show up in physical symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, and digestive problems. On an emotional level, anxiety can lead to fear, agitation, and even feelings of impending doom. The experience is often described as a deep unease that feels almost impossible to shake.

The Body’s Natural Stress Response

Unlike humans, animals have a natural mechanism for releasing trauma. After facing a stressful or life-threatening situation, animals instinctively shake their bodies, discharging the pent-up tension from their nervous systems. Humans, however, tend to carry unresolved stress and trauma without a physical release, leading to prolonged states of anxiety. In today’s society, many coping mechanisms may not truly release the stress but instead suppress it. The release of these stored emotions is often dubbed as ‘Somatic release’ in our modern metaphysical circles.

How Homeopathy Can Help

In my practice, I see anxiety manifest in layers, like an unfolding story within each person. For some, it has a clear trigger—loss, trauma, or life transitions. Others may experience anxiety as an inherited tendency, showing up even in childhood. What fascinates me is how different the journey is for everyone, and homeopathy offers an individualised approach to healing.

Homeopathy treats anxiety by addressing the whole person—physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s not about suppressing symptoms but understanding the underlying patterns. Each remedy is matched to a person’s unique experience, considering not just the type of anxiety but the associated physical symptoms, triggers, and even personality traits.

It is then no surprise that every remedy we use pretty much has an ‘Anxiety Picture’. Here are a few expressions of some remedies we use for the acute anxiety picture;

• Argentum nitricum: Helps those who experience anxiety with a sense of urgency, such as panic before public speaking or travel.

• Aconite: Useful in sudden, intense episodes of fear that come on rapidly, often accompanied by a sense of dread.

• Arsenicum album: Beneficial for those who struggle with perfectionism and anxiety about health or security.

For a deeper gaze into the constitutional approach to anxiety, here are some examples of remedies we use more to unpack the onion layers of the overall anxiety picture

• Aurum Met: The main feeling of this remedy is one where duty and responsibility have become  a great burdon and all the tasks feel impossible or beyond capacity to achieve

• Sepia: This is one of my greatest ‘overwhelmed mum’ remedies where the feeling is that she is constantly depended on and feels inundated with ‘tasks’. 

• Pulsatilla: This remedy is often used when the harshness creates a feeling of being alone in the world and the anxieties present in consistent tears and inward jealousy.

So you can see, we are all different and therefore require a unique approach to balancing out the little expressions in all of us.

it is equally important to remember that while homeopathy may provide natural support for anxiety, integrating other therapies such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and lifestyle changes can enhance the healing process. These techniques, when combined with homeopathic remedies, create a more holistic approach to managing anxiety.

Lifestyle Changes to Support Anxiety Treatment

Making small yet consistent lifestyle adjustments can have a significant impact on anxiety management:

• Diet: A balanced diet rich in whole foods helps stabilise mood. Avoid stimulants like caffeine and sugar that can worsen anxiety.

• Exercise: Physical activity releases tension and produces endorphins that naturally elevate mood. Gentle forms of exercise, like yoga and tai chi, can help regulate the nervous system.

• Sleep: Establishing a regular sleep routine is crucial for anxiety management. Remedies such as Coffea cruda or Passiflora or my sleep mix’ may help with sleep disturbances linked to anxiety.

Practical Self-Care Tips

• Grounding Techniques: Nature! Walking barefoot on natural surfaces like grass or sand helps release negative energy and creates a sense of stability.

• Deep Breathing: Practicing belly breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body and mind. Sometimes it is a challenge to want to do this in the moment, my ‘Toolkit for Mummas’ goes into more strategies

• Journaling: Keeping a journal helps identify anxiety triggers, thought patterns, and provides a constructive outlet for emotions. A gratitude journal is such a great way to start or end the day.

• Listening: To that inner voice directing you to find stillness or say no to something. We all have that voice telling us to go outside and stand in the sun for 5 minutes, we often override that voice with a task or to ‘keep going’. Watch what happens when you actually listen!

Why Anxiety May Arise: An Energetic Perspective

Energetically, anxiety often signals misalignment or an unprocessed emotion that has taken root. From a holistic viewpoint, anxiety can be seen as the body’s way of indicating where attention is needed, almost like a message from within asking us to realign or release old patterns. It is also may indicate imbalances in the Solar Plexus Chakra, associated with personal power and self-worth.

Children with anxiety may carry ancestral or inherited energetic imprints, where homeopathy can serve as a gentle yet profound tool for realignment. For adults, it may be a call to revisit old traumas or beliefs that no longer serve them. Our children also become our barometer for change, when something is coming up for them, it may often be a deeper sign to look at what is happening in their environment that might not be working for them - school, friends, your work load or times etc etc.

My Own Experience with Anxiety

I’ve journeyed through anxiety in many forms and have learned to recognise its subtle signs. There was a time when I experienced overwhelming panic in situations that felt all too familiar to childhood trauma. During those moments, deep breathing became my anchor. It wasn’t just a tool for calming the mind but a way to remember my strength, wisdom, and the resilience I’ve cultivated over the years. 

Through this journey, I found homeopathy to be a powerful ally. It doesn’t just address the physical sensations or emotional turmoil; it helps unravel deeper layers, guiding the body toward balance and long-term healing.

Homeopathic Research and Studies

Although homeopathy is considered a complementary therapy, research supports its efficacy in treating anxiety:

• A study on Argentum nitricum showed significant improvement in test anxiety among participants (Baker DG, et al., 2003).

• A double-blind trial found homeopathic remedies as effective as fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression, often linked to anxiety (Adler UC, et al., 2009).

You can find more on these studies at the Homeopathy Research Institute or Australian Homeopathic Association.

Help is always available

If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, consider a holistic approach that supports the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you seek help through homeopathy, breathwork, or lifestyle changes, know that you’re not alone in this journey. Let’s work together to find the peace and balance you deserve.

Warmest,

Martine